Living in Singer Island, FL:
What It’s Really Like

Singer Island is a barrier island just east of Riviera Beach, a slender ribbon of land with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Lake Worth Lagoon on the other. If Jupiter is the low-rise, flip-flop-casual version of coastal Florida, Singer Island is its more polished cousin — a place where oceanfront condo towers, resort-style amenities, and walk-to-the-sand living define daily life. It’s about four miles long and only a half-mile wide at its widest point, so you’re never far from the water no matter where you land.

The rhythm here is unhurried and distinctly resort-like. Mornings might start with a walk on the wide public beach or a swim in a heated community pool overlooking the ocean. John D. MacArthur Beach State Park anchors the north end with nearly two miles of protected shoreline, nature trails, and a nature center — a genuine wild-Florida contrast to the towers just south. On the lagoon side, the Sailfish Marina Resort is a local institution, famous for its Sunday-night waterfront dining and its short water-taxi hop to Peanut Island, a favorite for snorkeling, paddleboarding, and sandbar weekends.

It’s a community that skews toward second-home owners, snowbirds, retirees, and lock-and-leave professionals, which gives it a calmer, quieter feel than the mainland — especially in the off-season. But you’re minutes from downtown West Palm Beach when you want energy, dining, and culture. In short: the island gives you the beach-town retreat, and the bridge gives you the city whenever you want it.

Singer Island is an oceanfront barrier island in one of Palm Beach County’s most sought-after settings, and pricing reflects that — this is a desirable coastal market, not a bargain one. Because it’s condo-dominated, the number that matters most here isn’t just purchase price: it’s the monthly carrying cost. Entry-level condos can start in the $300s, while newer luxury oceanfront residences reach well into the millions. (All price points estimated — flag for Amanda’s review.)

The trade-offs work strongly in your favor if you’re relocating from the Northeast, Midwest, or West Coast. Florida has no state income tax, and homesteaded primary residences benefit from Florida’s Save Our Homes cap, which limits annual assessment increases. Everyday costs — groceries, dining, services — run close to national averages.

The line items to budget carefully on a barrier island: condo HOA fees and special assessments (post-Surfside, many older Florida condo buildings have funded structural reserves and milestone inspections, which can mean higher dues or one-time assessments), homeowner’s and flood insurance (coastal premiums are meaningfully higher than most of the country and vary widely by building age, elevation, and roof), and any resort or club fees. These are exactly the numbers I help relocating buyers pressure-test before they fall in love with a view — it’s a core part of my relocation process.